1 Oak Ridge Road, Bldg. 3, #4A West Lebanon, NH 03784

603-643-4201 or 888-262-3223 Rev. Dale Edwards, Region Minister

THE AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES OF VERMONT AND NEW HAMPSHIRE

May Newsletter

Table of Contents Page 2 Fresh Expressions

Page 3 Review of Annual Gathering

Page 4 Missionary Mylinda Baites coming to First Baptist Church, Keene and First Haitian Baptist Church Update

Page 5 Ministerial Meetings, New Hampton Community Church Life Groups

Page 6 Camp Sentinel, Prayer Concerns

A Note About Our Newsletters

We are in the process of shifting how we communicate within the ABC Vermont and New Hampshire Region! Our plan in the future is to send out two publications a month. The first is a newsletter, which will primarily be on the Mission and the Ministry of the Region. The second is a bulletin board, which will be on what’s happening in our churches. Those who are getting the newsletter by mail will receive both together once a month. If you have anything you would like to share in the newsletter or bulletin board, please email Kathleen Blackey at kathleen.blackey@abcvnh.org. We would appreciate your prayers and your patience as we make this transition!

ABC/VNH Region Newsletter – May 2017 Page | 2

The trustees of our Region have decided to partner with an organization called Fresh Expressions. It “is an international movement of missionary disciples cultivating new kinds of church alongside existing congregations to more effectively engage our growing post-Christian society.” Fresh Expressions is a movement that is cultivating new forms of church alongside existing congregations in order to reach a changing world. Begun in England 10 years ago, it has resulted in the birth of over 2,500 new communities in the UK alone. Fresh Expressions has spread to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and is also taking shape in the US. At its heart, Fresh Expressions is about empowering and equipping God’s people to develop creative expressions of church that can reach the increasing diversity of our society. On June 10th, 2017 from 9:00am – 3:30pm there will be a Vision Day at United Baptist Church in Concord, NH, and churches are encouraged to send members to participate. Cost is $20. Pastors can get continuing education credits for attending. What is Vision Day? Vision Day is a great way to discover more about Fresh Expressions. In an interactive format, you will have the chance to:

Hear how Fresh Expressions is renewing the church Talk about the development of Fresh Expressions US Learn more about the Mission-Shaped Church Discover tools to start Fresh Expressions in your area

What’s the schedule? 9:00am Gathering Time – Coffee & Refreshments 9:30am Welcome & Worship 10:00am Session # 1 – Movement: How Fresh Expressions Is Changing the Landscape 10:45am Break 11:00am Session # 2 – Need: Why Fresh Expressions Matter for the Church 12:00pm Lunch Break 12:45pm Session # 3 – Form: Creating Fresh Expressions in Context 1:45pm Break 2:00pm Session # 4 – Action: How It’s Happening and How You Can Get Involved 3:30pm Closing To register for the event, go to: http://freshexpressionsus.org/event/vision-day-new-england

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Annual Gathering

This year’s Annual Gathering was attended by 180 people with worship, meetings, speakers, workshops, meals, a youth project, and an ice cream social. Those who attended came from

multi-ethnic backgrounds, and it was the youngest gathering seen in a long while.

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Mylinda Baites Coming to First Baptist Church, Keene Mylinda Baites, an ABC missionary is coming to First Baptist Church (105 Maple Ave. Keene, NH) on Sunday, June 4th at 3PM. Mylinda’s mission focuses on human trafficking of women and children in the Iberoamerica-Carribean region. Mylinda helps create safe and sacred places where new life in Christ begins. Refreshments will be provided.

First Haitian Baptist Church of Manchester Update The Region has been helping this congregation as they have been working on buying a building in Manchester, NH. Here is an update from their pastor, Rev. Renaud Dumont: Our French Speaking Ministry in Manchester was a restart out of the Dr. Roger Nicole outreach project in the early 70s. Dr. Roger Nicole was a professor of theology back then at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and was sent to Manchester to serve as an interim pastor of the Merrimack Street Baptist Church to become the Manchester Faith Baptist Church located today at 53 Mammoth Road. Dr. Nicole was the first to have that vision and to get it started at Merrimack Street. In 1985 when I was sent miraculously to Manchester, I was led by God to the Faith Baptist Church to restart the ministry on a Resurrection Day - Easter Sunday - April 7th, 1985. And today in 2017 we are celebrating our Church’s 32nd Anniversary. We had to move out of the Faith Baptist Church facilities to be relocated at the Manchester Helping Hands Building on Lowell Street. We were then relocated again at Manchester Bakkersville School (Corner of Elm Street & Queen City Avenue). From there the Gethsemane Lutheran Church had opened its doors to our church at 60 Pennacook Street & 65 Sagamore Street allowing our ministry to grow and survive for more than twenty years until finally we found that place at the 439 Merrimack Street we can call Home after 30 years of struggles with ups and downs in our church life and ministries. Now we are the French Speaking First Haitian Baptist Church of Manchester, New Hampshire giving all the glory to God for providing to us three buildings instead one. Now we own a Sanctuary building, a Fellowship building and a Personage house. Our most sincere gratitude to Rev. Dale Edwards and the ABCVNH sister churches for assisting us from 1985 to date. Now we are in a position to experience church growth in many ways with hope to be able to keep up with mortgage and many other expenses. Please remember us in your prayers and generous donations. With our love and appreciation in Christ.

- Rev. Renaud Dumont (P.O. Box 261 Manchester, NH 03105 - 603-860-8792)

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Clergy & Ministerial Leaders Monthly Association Meetings

Association Date Time Location Contact

Central Fri., May 19 8:15 a.m. McKenna’s Restaurant,

New London Dale Nicholas

Green & White Wed., May 17 10:00 a.m. Littleton Diner Greg Vigne Green & White Active Pastors

Tue., May 9 1:00 p.m. Community Baptist Church,

Whitefield Greg Vigne

Lakes Thurs., May 11 8:00 a.m. The Soda Shoppe, Laconia Linda Bolton Monadnock Fri., May 5 8:30 a.m. 1st Baptist Church, Keene Charlie Boucher Northwest Tues., May 9 9:30 a.m. 1st Baptist Church, Burlington David Wood Southeast Tues., May 9 8:00 a.m. 1st Baptist Church, Brentwood Ken Lawrence Southern Tues., May 9 11:30 a.m. Blake’s Restaurant, Manchester John Cerrato

Southwest Thurs. May 18 9:30 a.m. 1st Baptist Church,

Manchester Center Parsonage Kathleen Blackey

Women Mini-sterial Leaders

Mon., May 15 10:00 a.m. United Baptist Church, Concord Linda Bolton

New Hampton Community Church Life Groups With a total church population of approximately 150, their life groups attendance averages 85 with 11 separate groups. You might ask, how, in this day and age, is their church able to attract such numbers? They believe the answer is they are passionate about their relationship with God and with each other. Early on in their quest to become a church that even irreligious people love to attend they found two guiding principles. The first one is circles are better than rows. People do not really get to know each other in a church pew. Discussion and connection is so much easier at a round table and over time relationships are built. They are passionate about building relationships. The second principal they live by is being biblical. They encourage a thorough knowledge of scripture to further our understanding and relationship with God. And lastly they strive to be a missional people, always reaching out in service to those in their church, their community and to the world wide mission fields.

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Camp Sentinel Update Since 1949, Sentinel has been providing a summer Christian community for youth to build self-esteem, have meaningful connections, develop character, become strong leaders and to discover and explore creativity through the guidance of well trained staff. We believe that camp is an opportunity for everyone and we are excited to see you and your family this year!

Summer Camp 2017 Youth Overnight Camp Program (BG1-BG6) Boys and Girls Overnight Camp ($480) Youth 7-15 years old For over 60 years our camp has provided a safe, fun, Christian summer camp experience. Daily activities include: swimming, boating, arts & crafts, teambuilding games, ropes course with zipline, rockwall, archery, hiking, large group team sports, and many other great adventures. Each evening the entire camp gathers for Vespers which is a time of worship, singing and Bible study. Weekly Theme: Red Carpet. On Friday evenings we gather at a special “red carpet celebration” banquet where campers dress up for a special dinner to celebrate the week.

Program weeks: Sunday June 25th *, Sunday July 2nd, Sunday July 9th *, Sunday July 16th, Sunday July 23rd, Sunday August 6th (*campers may stay for two weeks)

2017 summer brochures have been mailed to campers and churches. If you need additional copies please contact the camp office 603.539.4839 or info@campsentinel.org Churches may email or mail roster of children with payment of $100 per camper to the camp office. Register online at www.campsentinel.org

Year round retreats: Sentinel Lodge is open year round for churches and groups to come to the stillness of the 600 acres and enjoy a mile of water frontage. We are happy to work with your details and your budget, as Sentinel operates mission first. To book a retreat, please email kevin@campsentinel.org

Prayer Concerns Prayers for the family of Rev. Robert Washer, who passed away. Cards can be sent to Robert’s son:

Dave Washer, 88 Violet Street, Goffstown NH 03045.